JUPITER. The name Iuppiter is made up of two elements: the first, Iou-, stems from the Indo-European *dyeu, the root of dies, or "day"; while in the second element we find the Latin word pater, meaning "father." Iuppiter therefore identifies the "god of heavenly light." Many of the ancients were aware of this meaning; Paulus-Festus for example, describes the epithet Lucetius, referring to the god, this way: "Lucetium Iovem appellabant quod eum lucis esse causam credebant" (Jupiter was called Lucetius since he was believed to be the author of light). The name Iuppiter belongs to the Indo-European domain, and is semantically related to the Greek Zeus, which stems from *dyeus.

All Italians recognized Jupiter as their god, particularly the Latins, who honored him under the title of Jupiter Latiaris during the Feriae Latinae. This feast was celebrated each year under the auspices of Alba Longa on the summit...